The King Alfred Chair of English Literature was founded at the University of Liverpool, England in 1881. It was one of the original endowments of the University, funded by William Rathbone and his brothers Samuel and Phillip Rathbone. The early history of the chair was as follows: King Alfred Chair of Modern History and Literature, 1881–82; Modern Literature and History, 1882-1884; Modern Literature and English Language, 1884-1900.
King Alfred Professors of English Literature The holders of the chair have been:
1881–1889: A.C. Bradley 1890–1900: Sir Walter Raleigh 1901–1925: Oliver Elton 1929–1951: Leonard Martin 1951–1974: Kenneth Muir FBA 1974–1990: Philip Edwards FBA 1991–2003: Sir Jonathan Bate CBE FBA 2004–2010: Neil Corcoran 2020–present: Gregory Lynall
References
External links University Chairs and their Holders Past and Present: Faculty of Arts